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What do the Greens want for Europe?

Alex Evans
Alex Evans - [email protected]
What do the Greens want for Europe?
The Greens present their election posters for the EU Parliament campaign. Photo: DPA

They may have been ousted as the third biggest party in the German parliament, but the Greens are alive, kicking and competing in the European Parliament elections. The Local explores their election manifesto.

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The environmentalist Green Party is looking to make headway in the elections on a platform of "renewing" the union with a raft of political changes – but they lead with their flagship ecological policies.

Future of the EU

The Greens, like all parties standing in this election, pledge to give EU citizens more say over decisions made at EU level. They say they will do this through more referendums.

They also want to give EU citizens the vote in national and regional elections anywhere in the EU after living there for five years.

The manifesto calls for a European convention to review, consider and modernize the contents of all the EU treaties, the results of which would be voted on directly by citizens.

The Greens also call for the western Balkan countries to apply for EU membership, but say Turkey is not ready to join due to police brutality and a lack of freedom of expression and the press.

Economy

The party has presented a "Green New Deal" to take Europe out of the economic crisis. It includes:

-Fix the crisis and lay foundations of a sustainable EU economy by investing in green energy, climate protection and new infrastructure

-New jobs in green tech and energy sectors

-Clamp down on tax evasion

They also want a European banking union as a necessary expansion of the common currency, which identifies and liquidates "sick" banks, as well as a strict separation between high street banks and investment banks.

In the banking sector they also want more consumer protection.

Climate and the Environment

The Green Party wants to continue pushing the switch to green energy – known in Germany as the Energiewende.

Their flagship policies include:

-Create a competition for the most energy efficient products and eco-friendly transport

-Introduce binding targets for an increase in energy efficiency

-Support green transport initiatives including car sharing and bike sharing

-Support 30 km per hour speed limit in towns

-Build a Europe-wide transport network by plugging the gaps in European rail network especially around cities.

-Campaign against all GM crops and expand research into possible risks associated with GM

Mobility and Immigration

The Greens call for a "new beginning" for the EU’s border policy in their manifesto to make Europe more refugee-friendly.

They also say refugees should be allowed to live in whichever country they feel connected to.

Foreign Policy

The Green's pursue a foreign policy which campaigns for disarmament. They want to limit arms dealing and work towards a Europe free of nuclear weapons.

Their manifesto also calls for:

-A conference for a Middle East free of WMDs, promote a renewed dialogue between EU and Iran to find a solution to Iran's nuclear programme

-Campaign in EU parliament against "inhuman" weapons such as phosphorus and depleted uranium rounds

-Reform NATO to give other members the same amount of influence as the US

-Strengthen the OSCE

-Give the UN its own standing military force rather than having to recruit troops from member states

-More coordination between military forces of different EU member states

SEE ALSO: What does the SPD want for Europe?

SEE ALSO: What does the CDU want for Europe?

SEE ALSO: What does the Left Party want for Europe?

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